West Richland School District Board of Education continued its discussion of what course the district will take in the future Monday during its monthly meeting.

According to a survey taken of the public, 54 percent would like the district to continue operating normally while 46 percent prefers the board either choose consolidation, annexation or deactivation.

A total of 33 percent of students would like all students to be under one roof, said Superintendent Gary Miller. However, 67 percent of students surveyed want the board to take steps to move forward with consolidation, annexation or deactivation.

Most students voted for consolidation and most of the public preferred annexation, according to Miller, adding that most of the staff prefer deactivation.

Many students would rather attend school in Clay City than East Richland. Students who were surveyed were in seventh-12th grade.

West Richland Junior-Senior High School Principal Kevin Westall said when he talked with students, many did not understand why the district has to possibly consolidate, annex or deactivate.

"They want to keep their school," he said.

Several students who said they would rather attend school in Clay City said they had more friends there than in Olney, Westall said.

Board member Lisa Hemrich said there has been some misinformation spreading because some students seem to believe they would be able to choose where they attend school.

The board would have to choose the parameters, she said. Hemrich said she also heard someone comment this weekend that they heard that any decision will not go into effect until 2015.

She said she explained to the individual that is not true and the board has not indicated that to be the case.

On Monday, Miller and several board members met with East Richland Superintendent Marilyn Holt and several East Richland board members.

West Richland board President Carolyne Brooks said she believes that East Richland also wants to do "what's best for the children in the entire county."

Miller said East Richland does not seem to be interested in consolidation because of the costs involved and other reasons. Instead, East Richland prefers annexation without a referendum.

Deactivation would cost East Richland $750,000 per year for a four-year period because the district would have to take 10 WRHS teachers. However, East Richland could have a Reduction in Force (RIF) of teachers after the first year those 10 teachers would start working for East Richland.

Those 10 teachers would not necessarily be the ones would be RIFd, depending on where they would fall on the seniority schedule.

Miller said there has been some discussion with East Richland of possibly having full-time substitute teachers instead of layoffs.

East Richland would also receive approximately $260,000 in incentives from the state over four years and both districts would have to negotiate a tuition agreement for West Richland students.

Page 2 of 3 - After two years of annexation, there could be representation from West Richland on East Richland's board.

Westall wondered why West Richland wants consolidation.

Hemrich said, "You lose a little less identification." She noted that she would like the district to be Richland County School District as opposed to just East Richland if the two districts are to merge in some way.

A possible 1-percent sales tax, which was discussed at a recent public meeting, would "not be silver bullet" people are wanting it to be, Brooks said.

Board member said it would also be a "drop in the bucket" of what is needed. Illinois Department of Revenue would also collect 2 percent of what would be earned for administrative costs.

Some board members seemed to favor annexation. Board members Brian Weidner and Steve Kinkade said they favored it.

Board member Dennis Anderson said he prefers deactivation.

Kinkade said he is afraid that deactivation is a "temporary fix."

Anderson, who filed for re-election Monday, said he has heard many people say that they think the board has already made up its mind of what it will do. He estimated that half of the people with whom he has spoken want to keep the high-school building open and many people want to keep the elementary school open.

VanBlaricum said that the "last thing I want to do is burden the taxpayers of this district with more debt."

A parent in the audience wondered what would happen to South Eastern Special Education classrooms.

Miller said the discussions between the two districts has not gotten that far yet. He said there could be a kindergarten-fifth-grade attendance center in Noble if annexation were approved or even a fifth- and sixth-grade attendance center.

Brooks said that whatever is decided it will lead to a difficult and emotional transition and that the board should not rush into a decision.

A referendum, which would be required of a consolidation and deactivation, would not be able to be on the ballot until 2014.

Annexation without a referendum could be voted on soon, but would more than likely not take effect until the 2014-2015 school year, Miller said.

A couple of other parents in the audience said the transition will probably be harder on parents than on students. They said they would be in favor of annexation without a referendum and have faith in the board to make the best decisions for what is best for the district and students.

In other business:

• School Report Cards were approved for WRES, WRHS and the district.

• Smart plans were approved for the elementary, junior-high and high schools.

Miller said the plans are mandated by the Race to the Top program.

Page 3 of 3 - • The board approved applying for membership with Southern Illinois Junior High Athletic Association for Fiscal Year 2014.

• A 403(b) plan update for the HEART Act was approved.

Miller said it is an insurance plan for district employees who are in the military.

• The Industrial Arts Club will be taking a field trip Feb. 16 to Chicago to the automotive show.

• Miller was authorized to seek bids for a new bus.

• Miller said that as of Dec. 31, the state and federal government will owe the district $179,766. He said federal dollars are coming in more regularly than state dollars.